** White House officials have asked the US Energy Department to analyze the possible impacts of a ban on exports of gasoline, diesel and other refined petroleum products, an indication that the controversial idea is gaining traction in some parts of the Biden administration.
** Monica Medina, the wife of White House chief of staff Ron Klain, has been selected to be the U.S. special envoy for biodiversity and water resources, the State Department announced Wednesday.
Medina serves as the assistant secretary of state for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs and will continue to do so in addition to her new role, per the State Department.
** White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to Fox News’ Peter Doocy asking if President Biden was responsible for lowering gas prices, was he also responsible for gas prices going up? “So it’s a lot more nuanced than that, right. Peter you know this.
** The American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Mike Sommers and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President and CEO Chet Thompson sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm raising significant concerns that the administration could pursue a ban or limits on refined petroleum products.
** Minnesota GOP lawmakers urge state pollution regulators to reject stricter tailpipe emission rules under consideration in California.
** A nonprofit research group finds that Ohio oil and gas drillers have used PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” during operations thousands of times since 2013.
** Electric truck manufacturer Rivian produced nearly 7,400 vehicles at its Illinois plant last quarter and anticipates meeting its target of 25,000 vehicles this year.
** GM delivered 14,709 Chevy Bolt electric vehicles in the third quarter, more than doubling the year-to-date Bolt total to 22,012 units. GM is increasing Bolt production to meet demand.
** Startup Eviation flew its medium-range electric airplane, Alice, for the first time last week, zipping over Grant County International Airport in rural eastern Washington. The airport is a retired military facility with a very long runway, making it uniquely suited for testing aircraft of all sizes.
World
** European Union countries reached a compromise on a new package of Russia sanctions that includes support for a price cap on oil sales to third countries, with a formal agreement expected on Wednesday, according to people familiar with the matter.
** European Union sanctions against Russia are working well, a top European Commissioner said on Tuesday, dismissing as Russian propaganda criticism that EU measures were ineffective and had little impact.
** New sanctions by G7 countries on Russia will target its oil and products in three phases, senior U.S. treasury official Ben Harris told the Argus European Crude Conference in Geneva on Tuesday.
** Sweden has sent a vessel capable of “advanced diving missions” to the Baltic Sea area where ruptured undersea pipelines leaked natural gas for days, the Swedish navy said Monday.
